"So, Anika tells me you're a famous painter?"
Bob finally had some time alone with Kathryn, Anika having gone backstage to get ready for the show.
"Well, I wouldn't know about the famous part, but yes, I am an artist." Kathryn modestly deflected.
Bob unobtrusively tried to look over the elegant woman standing before him. He guessed her to be closer to his age, but she had a classic beauty and style about her. In fact, it was difficult not to let his eyes linger over the two pale white breasts the deep V neck red dress pushed together. Classy, yes. Sexy as hell too.
"Kathryn Janeway! Could we get a photo of you and Bob for the paper’s social section?"
Bob watched Kathryn try not to cringe. Giving a dazzling smile she murmured, "not at all," moving to stand next to Bob.
After the photo was taken, Kathryn muttered a hasty "excuse me", grabbed a glass of champagne and headed for her table. Somehow he didn't think Kathryn Janeway was too fond of the press.
Intrigued, Bob followed her to the table. Just then the lights dimmed, the spotlight hit the stage and the first notes filled the air.
"Once upon a time I had plenty of nothing,
which was fine with me because I had rhythm, music, love,
the sun, the stars and the moon above,
had the clear blue sky and the deep blue sea...
that was when the best things in life were freeeee.."
The sounds of thirties/forties burlesque style music filled the club and Kathryn swallowed hard. That tight dress on Anika, the shimmying dance moves she made with the back up singers and that sultry voice ...
Bob could see Kathryn swallowing hard and stifled a smile. Anika had confided in him that night they had sat talking on the beach until the sun came up. She had admitted her fears that the artist might just see this as a fling. It was obvious to him the older woman was just as affected by Anika, as the blonde was by her. Looking back and forth at the two women, he had to admit they did make for a striking couple.
* * *
After the applause had died down, Anika started making her way to the table. It was slow going with patrons stopping her to congratulate her on her performance, but finally she made it to Bob and Kathryn.
"I knew you could do it!" Bob beamed. "They loved you!"
"Thanks." She received Bob's hug, then turned to Kathryn.
"You were wonderful," the artist husked.
A charming blush graced Anika's cheeks. Then she took Kathryn's hand and pulled her up. "Dance with me?" she implored.
"I..," nervously looking over to the dance floor, Kathryn didn't see any same sex couples dancing. She would have loved to dance with Anika, but the press was there, and she had no idea how “out” Anika really was. She also quite valued her privacy when it came to her love life. All thought died on her lips though when she saw the desire-laden pleading gaze the other woman was giving her, but she had to make her see the folly of the request.
"Darling, as much as I would love to, I don't think it's a good idea."
Ignoring her protest, Anika started walking towards the dance floor tugging her lover along behind her.
A bemused Kathryn allowed herself to be pulled against Anika’s body and they started swaying to the music. This felt way too good for such a bad idea.
Anika saw the flashes of several cameras as they moved across the dance floor and knew there would be no going back now. For either of them. Frankly, she did not care. She had come to the realization that she was in love with Kathryn Janeway and she had no intention of hiding their relationship.
* * *
Turning the page in the newspaper, Kathryn nearly spit it out her coffee all over the page. She had known the press would take notice but the photo was huge.
A curious Anika grabbed the newspaper from those cultured hands and could not stop the huge grin splitting her face. It was a great photo of them, but what delighted her most was the fact that the photographer had managed to capture a particularly loving, and for the lack of a precise term, 'mushy' look of enchantment on Kathryn's face.
"I don't know what you find so amusing," Kathryn sourly interjected. We won't be able to go anywhere in this town for the next while without people staring and whispering.
"Kathryn Janeway, are you sweet on me?"
Anika watched in fascination as an expression of pure panic flashed for a split second in those blue grey eyes, until her professional mask slid into place.
"What if I am?" she cautiously ventured, then felt all the air leave her lungs as she was crushed in a passionate embrace.
The brilliance of Anika's smile was breathtaking. In fact, Kathryn had to remind herself to inhale.
"I'm so glad because I'm totally hooked on you, my auburn haired queen."
The kiss that followed started out sweet, but soon escalated to a raging fire. They didn't make it up the stairs, but stumbled around downstairs, finally ending up in the living room. It took them a while to realise the doorbell was ringing.
Muttering a few swear words under her breath, Kathryn smoothed her hair one last time, looked through peep hole and opened the door.
"Sten!"
"Is this a bad time?" the author asked, not hiding the leer in his eyes very successfully. O dear god, really, what was up with this man and his wife? Kathryn thought miserably. She couldn't be that irresistible!
She coolly motioned for Sten to step inside.
"Not at all. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
A sheepish grin crossed his face. "Plain ole curiosity."
"Pardon? . You mean the painting? Well you know I don't show my work until it's done. If you want to know how the project is going .. "
Waving her comments aside, he explained. "I have no concerns about the painting. I've seen enough of your work to know it will be exquisite. However, I was paging through this morning's paper and saw an article on the opening of Club Voyager." Peering around the entrance, trying to catch a glimpse of the house's other rooms, he continued. "I was hoping to meet the lady who first captured your paintbrush's imagination and then your.. affections."
Flabbergasted, but too controlled to openly gape at the man, she could only blink a couple of times. When she was sure her vocal chords were under control she pleasantly but in a low, very low voice said, "You will meet Anika at the show next Saturday evening. Now, if there is nothing else, I really do have to start working today so that the painting will be ready by then."
Before he knew what had hit him, Sten found himself standing outside the closed front door. He was grinning like a fool having spotted a bra lying on the living room carpet. Saturday night could not come soon enough.